AN INSIGHT VIEW ON AGNIKARMA - Dr. Swapna Kumary

AN INSIGHT VIEW ON AGNIKARMA

*Dr. M.K. Shringi                            ** Dr. Swapna Kumary

 

Abstract: Agnikarma has been explained as one among the anushastras. Almost all ayurvedic classics have described the use of agnikarma in curing different disorders as pradhanakarma and in some disorders as paschathkarma to cure the complications. Its importance lies in its action, because of its ability to cure those diseases also, which can’t be cured by the bheshaja, shastra and ksharakarma. In this paper an insight view on agnikarma has been compiled and presented systematically.

Introduction:

The word Agnikarma is made up of two words i.e., Agni and Karma. Agni, the musculine word derived from the root agigatau agyati agnayamna prapyanti. i.e., it gives the rebirth, is utilised to cure and prevent the diseases. Agni is the important one among the pancha mahabhutas. The Agni, in the form of bhootagni, jatharagni and dhatwagni is the life for the creatures. On the basis of the loka – purusha sadharmya, the Agni that exists in the body, possesses the same properties as that of Agni in the world. So any procedure that involves the Agni directly or indirectly is considered under agnikarma.

The agnikarma is also known by different names like dahanakarma, dahakarma, dagdhakarma, jalanakarma and pachanakarma, finds its role in the vataja and kaphaja vyadhi involving the dhatu that are predominant with pruthvi and ap mahabhutha. Mere utilization of agnikarma, which is counted in anushastra, upayantra and shashti upakrama, provides Shalyatantra the unique position among the eight faculties of Ayurveda. Agnikarma can be utilised – As preventive measure, as curative measure, as postoperative procedure, and as haemostatic measure.

Importance of Agnikarma:

                Agnikarma does not allow the diseases to reoccur, once they are treated by it. Agnikarma is superior to kshara by means of its action. Agnikarma is always utilised as the ultimate measure among the yantra, shastra, anushastra, kshara etc., because of its ability to cure those diseases also, which can’t be cured by the bheshaja, shastra and ksharakarma. Agnikarma is the ultimate measure for the haemostasis among the four raktasthambhana measures.

 

*Associate professor                                  ** Ph.D. scholar

National Institute of Ayurveda,                            National Institute of Ayurveda,

Jaipur.                                                        Jaipur.

Indication of AngiKarma:

• Twak – sira – mamsa – snayu – sandhi and astigata vata; kathina, uchrita suptamamsa; vrana; granti; arsha; bhagandara; arbuda; apachi; shleepada; Charmakeela; tilakalaka; antravrudhi; sirachedana; nadivrana and shonita atipravrutti.
• All the diseases, which are  caused by vata and kapha dosha, involving the sthayi dhatus like mamsa, meda, asthi, majja and upadhatu like sira, snayu and twak that are pruthvi and ap mahabhutha pradhana, should be treated with agnikarma on the basis of vipareeta chikitsa.
• In  Vatajadisease like gridrace, vatakantaka etc.

Contra Indication for agnikarma

• Unsuitable in PittaPrakruti, Sharada and greeshma rutu, Bala and vrudha avasta.
• Unsuitable in persons like Durbala, bheeru.
• Unsuitable conditions like Garbhini, vishadayukta, Antahashonita, rakta pitta, anudhruta shalya, bhinnakoshta, anekavranapeedita, aswedya like pandu, pramehi,trashnapedeta etc.

Classification of agnikarma:

Agnikarma can be classified depending upon the following criteria:

1. Shape – a.Valaya b.Bindu c.Vilekha d. Pratisarana e.Ardhachandra f.Swastika

            g. Ashtapada.

2. Involvement of Dhatu in dahana - a. Twak dagdha b. Mamsadagdha c. Sira,

            snayudagdha d. sandhi – asthi dagdha.

3. Site - a. Sthanika dahanakarma b. Sthanantarika dahanakarma.
4. Materials used - a. Snigdha b. Rooksha.
5. Stage of intervention - a. As Pradhanakarma b. As Paschatkarma

Material used for Agni karma:

Agnikarma instruments: A number of instruments have been described according to

nature of function and disease in which it is used. They are

  

Extent of Burn	Instruments used
Twak dahana	Pippali, ajashakrut, godanta, shara, shalaka, varti, suryakanta
Mamsa dahana	Jambosta, itara loha, suchi, shalaka, madhu, sneha, guda etc
Sira snayu and sandhi asthi	Madhu, guda and sneha
For kapha pradhana vyadhi	Rooksha dravya
For vata pradhana vyadhi	Snigdha dravya

Different materials heated at different temperatures are used for Agni Karma i.e. depending upon the vyadi, vyadisthana and its predominant doshas, instruments made out of different materials are selected for the treatment.

Poorvakarma:

• Instruments used for agnikarma like pippali, shalaka and plota, pichu, grita, madu, yestimadu etc. The stove or other source of Agni should be kept ready.
• Patient should be posted for agnikarma on empty stomach in cases like moodagarbha, ashmari, bhagandara, udara, arsha and mukharoga. Whereas pichhila anna should be given before the procedure in all the other conditions.

Pradhanakarma:

• Mark the site where exactly agnikarma should be performed and after proper cleaning the area, agnikarma is performed at the expected site as per the vyadi and upto the expected extent of the burn, which can cause the samyak dagdha lakshana, i.e. wound exhibits pakwa tala phalavarna or kapotavarna and without any upadrava.

Paschatkarma:

• Gritha and madhu should be applied over the wound that do the prasadana of aggravated pitta and rakta.The pathya is advised.

Agnikarma may work on following principles:

• Ayurvedic principles state that being ushna treatment acts against the qualities of vata and kapha doshas and hence cures all the vataja and kaphaj disorders.even it helps to remove srothosangha and avarana by ushnaguna.
• According to scientist Dr.VenHanff, in the heat burns places the local tissue metabolism improves, thus various metabolic and rejuvenating changes takes places at the site of heat burns, thus it leads to increased demand of oxygen and nutrient of the tissues at the site of heat burn.It also excretes the unwanted metabolites and toxins.
• Due to increased local metabolism, the waste products (metabolites) which are produced gets execrated, which normalize the blood circulation thus resulting in reduction in intensity of pain.
• Provided that the heating is not excessive, it appears to reduce the excitability (quick response to stimuli) of nerves.
• Rise in temperature induces relaxation of muscles & hence muscles spasm with inflammation and pain gets reduced.
• Skin is one of the places of vayu; agnikarma is performed to release the sangha (obstruction) of vayu.
• The relief of pain makes it possible to walk or activity of extremities efficiently.
• Dhana karma is having the property of serasankochana by that quality even it helps for rakthasthambhana (haemostasis).
• Pain is caused any where in the body is due to vata, Agni karma being ushna chikitsa pacifies vata, and thus the pain is relieved immediately after Agnikarma.

Precaution:

• Agni, visha, shastra, kshara are dreadful when they are in unskillful hands. Hence should be used with great care and skill.

Reffrences:

1. Sushruta; Sushruta Samhita; with Nibandha Sangraha commentary of Sri Dalhanacharya, edited by        Yadavji Trikumji Acharya; Chaukhamba  Publications new delhi; reprint 2009; Dalhana on Sutra sthana 12^th chapter; pp 50.

 2. Vagbhata; Ashtangahridaya; with commentaries of Sarvangasundari of Arunadatta & Ayurveda rasayana of Hemadri; annoted by Dr. Anna Moreshwar Kunte & Krishna Ramachandra Shastri Narve; edited by Pt. Hari Sadashiva Shastri Paradhakar; Chaukhamba Surabharati Prakashana; reprint 2002; Sutra Sthana 30^th chapter; pp 358.